U.S. patent number 6,213,978 [Application Number 09/399,959] was granted by the patent office on 2001-04-10 for intravenous catheter insertion apparatus.
Invention is credited to Cherie A. Voyten.
United States Patent |
6,213,978 |
Voyten |
April 10, 2001 |
Intravenous catheter insertion apparatus
Abstract
The intravenous catheter insertion apparatus has a catheter
integral with a pre-slit injection site, a blunt cannula adapted
for piercing the septum of the pre-slit injection site, and a tube
slidably housing a needle. In a preferred embodiment, the needle
tube and blunt cannula are integral with each other. In use, the
needle is extended through the aligned bores of the catheter,
injection site, and blunt cannula, leaving a portion of the needle
tip projecting from the end of the catheter in order to insert the
catheter into the patient's vein through venipuncture. The needle
is withdrawn, the needle slide locking in the tube housing after
use in order to prevent accidental needle puncture wounds. The
blunt cannula is also removable, leaving the septum of the
injection site sealed to prevent back flow or spurting of blood
from the catheter. In an alternate embodiment, a T-connector having
a pre-slit septum may be used in lieu of the of the injection
site.
Inventors: |
Voyten; Cherie A. (Boca Raton,
FL) |
Family
ID: |
26803253 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/399,959 |
Filed: |
September 20, 1999 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
604/164.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M
25/0606 (20130101); A61M 25/0631 (20130101); A61M
39/045 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61M
25/06 (20060101); A61M 39/02 (20060101); A61M
39/04 (20060101); A61M 005/178 () |
Field of
Search: |
;604/27,93,110,158,164-167,170,264,272,523,533-535,539 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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WO 90/12606 |
|
Nov 1990 |
|
WO |
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WO 92/04063 |
|
Mar 1992 |
|
WO |
|
Primary Examiner: Kennedy; Sharon
Assistant Examiner: Serke; Catherine
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Litman; Richard C.
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Serial No. 60/106,058, filed Oct. 27, 1998.
Claims
I claim:
1. An intravenous catheter insertion apparatus for insertion of an
intravenous catheter into the vein of a patient, comprising:
a) a catheter having a hub and a cannula adapted for insertion into
a vein of a patient, the hub and the cannula having a bore defined
therein;
b) a pre-slit injection site having a cylindrical housing defining
a chamber and a fluid flow tube, the chamber and the fluid flow
tube defining a bore, the fluid flow tube being adapted for
insertion into the hub of said catheter so that the bore defined in
the pre-slit injection site and the bore defined by the catheter
are registered, the housing being connected to said catheter, the
housing having an annular groove defined about its circumference,
the housing including a flexible and resilient septum having a slit
defined therein, the septum forming a cap for the chamber, said
catheter and the pre-slit injection site being integral with each
other;
c) a blunt cannula having a hollow, cylindrical body and a
penetrating tube defining a bore, the penetrating tube being
adapted for penetrating the slit defined in the septum of said
pre-slit injection site in order to register the bore defined in
the blunt cannula with the bores defined in said pre-slit injection
site and said catheter; and
d) a needle having a tip and having a length sufficient to extend
through the bores defined in said catheter, said pre-slit injection
site, and said blunt cannula, the bores being registered, the
needle being slidably housed in a tube having an outlet tube
adapted for engaging the hollow, cylindrical body of said blunt
cannula, the tip of the needle projecting beyond an end of the
catheter in order to penetrate a vein of a patient.
2. The intravenous catheter insertion apparatus according to claim
1, wherein said blunt cannula further comprises connection means
for maintaining a connection between said blunt cannula and said
pre-slit injection site.
3. The intravenous catheter insertion apparatus according to claim
2, where said connection means comprises a pair of flexible locking
members attached to the hollow body for engaging the annular groove
defined about the circumference of said pre-slit injection site in
order to maintain a connection between said blunt cannula and said
pre-slit injection site.
4. The intravenous catheter insertion apparatus according to claim
1, wherein the penetrating tube of said blunt cannula further
comprises a tapered tip end adapted for penetrating the slit
defined in the septum of said pre-slit injection site.
5. The intravenous catheter insertion apparatus according to claim
1, wherein the tube housing said needle further comprises a locking
mechanism to retain said needle disposed in a retracted position
within said tube after use.
6. The intravenous catheter insertion apparatus according to claim
1, wherein the tube housing said needle is integral with said blunt
cannula.
7. An intravenous catheter insertion apparatus for insertion of an
intravenous catheter into the vein of a patient, comprising:
a) a catheter having a hub and a cannula adapted for insertion into
a vein of a patient, the hub and the cannula having a bore defined
therein;
b) a T-connector having a hollow, cylindrical body and a fluid flow
tube, the hollow body and the fluid flow tube defining a bore, the
fluid flow tube being adapted for insertion into the hub of said
catheter so that the bore defined in the T-connector and the bore
defined by the catheter are registered, the T-connector being
connected to said catheter, the hollow body having a side tube
connected to a side port by flexible tubing, the hollow body
further having a flange defined about its circumference, the hollow
body including a flexible and resilient septum having a slit
defined therein, the septum forming a cap for the hollow body;
c) a blunt cannula having a hollow, cylindrical body and a
penetrating tube defining a bore, the penetrating tube being
adapted for penetrating the slit defined in the septum of said
T-connector in order to register the bore defined in the blunt
cannula with the bores defined in said T-connector and said
catheter; and
d) a needle having a tip and having a length sufficient to extend
through the bores defined in said catheter, said T-connector, and
said blunt cannula, the bores being registered, the tip of the
needle projecting beyond an end of the catheter in order to
penetrate a vein of a patient.
8. The intravenous catheter insertion apparatus according to claim
3, wherein said catheter and said T-connector are integral with
each other.
9. The intravenous catheter insertion apparatus according to claim
7, wherein said blunt cannula further comprises connection means
for maintaining a connection between said blunt cannula and said
pre-slit injection site.
10. The intravenous catheter insertion apparatus according to claim
9, where said connection means comprises a pair of flexible locking
members attached to the hollow body for engaging the annular groove
defined about the circumference of said pre-slit injection site in
order to maintain a connection between said blunt cannula and said
pre-slit injection site.
11. The intravenous catheter insertion apparatus according to claim
7, wherein the penetrating tube of said blunt cannula further
comprises a tapered tip end adapted for penetrating the slit
defined in the septum of said pre-slit injection site.
12. The intravenous catheter insertion apparatus according to claim
7, wherein said needle is slidably housed in a tube having an
outlet tube adapted for engaging the hollow, cylindrical body of
said blunt cannula.
13. The intravenous catheter insertion apparatus according to claim
12, wherein the tube housing said needle further comprises a
locking mechanism to retain said needle disposed in a retracted
position within said tube after use.
14. The intravenous catheter insertion apparatus according to claim
12, wherein the tube housing said needle is integral with said
blunt cannula.
15. A method for inserting an intravenous catheter into the vein of
a patient, comprising the steps of:
a) selecting a pre-slit injection site-catheter combination;
b) inserting a blunt cannula into the pre-slit injection site;
c) extending a needle of a locking needle tube assembly through a
bore defined by the blunt cannula-injection site-catheter
combination so that a tip of the needle projects beyond an end of
the catheter;
d) performing a venipuncture procedure in order to insert the
catheter into a vein of a patient;
e) withdrawing the needle from a septum of the injection site;
f) locking the needle in order to prevent a needle puncture wound;
and
g) removing the blunt cannula from the injection site.
16. The method of inserting an intravenous catheter according to
claim 15, wherein the step of selecting a pre-slit injection
site-catheter combination further comprises selecting a pre-slit
injection site and catheter which are integral with each other.
17. The method of inserting an intravenous catheter according to
claim 15, further comprising the step of selecting an locking
needle tube and blunt cannula which are integral with each other.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to intravenous catheters, and
particularly to an intravenous catheter insertion apparatus which
prevents exposure of medical personnel to accidental needle sticks
and to blood borne pathogens during the insertion of an IV
catheter.
2. Description of Related Art
Intravenous (IV) therapy is a versatile technique used for the
administration of fluids. It has been used for such purposes as the
maintenance of fluid and electrolyte balance, the transfusion of
blood, administration of nutritional supplements, chemotherapy, and
the administration of drugs and medications. Fluids may be
administered intravenously by injection through a hypodermic
syringe, or intermittently or continuously by infusion using a
needle or a plastic or silicon catheter.
Although there are many advantages to be derived from the
intravenous administration of fluids, the past two decades have
brought heightened awareness of the risks of propagating infectious
diseases associated with the technique, particularly due to the HIV
virus. One consequence of this heightened awareness has been the
development of various devices to reduce the risk of spreading
infectious diseases. Probably the majority of devices which have
been developed are concerned with the danger of accidental puncture
wounds occurring through use of the hypodermic syringe needle or to
the particular needle or trocar used to introduce a continuous
infusion IV catheter.
Continuous infusion IV therapy may be generally divided between
peripheral IV therapy and central venous IV therapy, depending on
the site of administration. Catheters used for peripheral IV
therapy tend to be short, between 3/4" and 11/4" long, or
occasionally 2" long for insertion into a deep vein. Catheters for
central venous IV therapy tend to be much longer, and are outside
the scope of the present invention.
A peripheral IV catheter is made of soft, flexible plastic or
silicon, generally between 16 gauge and 24 gauge. In the
conventional venipuncture the catheter is inserted into a vein in
the patient's hand, foot, or the inner aspect of the arm or any
vein in the body that will accept an IV catheter. When inserting a
peripheral IV catheter, an IV infusion set is prepared, the IV
tubing being filled with fluid and any air eliminated from the
tubing, closing the fluid clamp. A tourniquet is applied proximal
to the venipuncture site, and a variety of techniques are used to
dilate the vein. Wearing disposable gloves, the venipuncture site
is cleansed and a vein is retracted or anchored by placing a thumb
over the vein about two to three inches distal to the site. A
catheter with a stylet advanced through its lumen so that the
pointed tip extends beyond the cannula of the catheter, or a
butterfly needle, is introduced into the vein by inserting the
bevel into the vein at about a 20.degree. to 30.degree. angle with
the bevel facing up in order to pierce one wall of the vein. Blood
return in the tubing of the butterfly needle or the flashback
chamber of the over the needle catheter indicates that the vein has
been entered, and the needle is lowered towards the skin and the
catheter is advanced about 1/4" into the vein. The stylet is
loosened and the catheter is gently advanced farther up into the
vein until the hub of the catheter is against the venipuncture
site. The tourniquet is loosened and the needle or stylet is
removed from the catheter. The needle adaptor of the infusion
tubing is secured to the hub of the catheter, and the roller clamp
is opened. The flow rate may be controlled either by adjusting the
roller clamp or an infusion pump, and the catheter is secured to
the venipuncture site by gauze and adhesive tape.
During this process medical personnel are exposed to the
possibility of an accidental needle puncture or to contamination
from the back flow of the patient's blood from the venipuncture
site.
Many protective devices have been developed to prevent accidental
needle puncture during the insertion of the IV catheter. U.S. Pat.
No. 4,444,203, issued Apr. 24, 1984 to A. Engleman, shows a
combination device for inserting an IV catheter and withdrawing
blood. The device includes a hub having a hypodermic needle at one
end adapted for releasably holing an over the needle catheter, and
a vacuum container penetrating needle covered by a resilient sleeve
at the other end of the hub. A vacuum container for collecting
blood slides over the vacuum needle, compressing the sleeve so the
needle penetrates the sleeve. The catheter may be inserted with or
without the vacuum container in place, blood samples are collected,
and the entire assembly except the catheter itself are removed.
Other blood collection devices are shown in U.S. Pat. No.
4,509,534, issued Apr. 9, 1985 to M. J. Tassin, Jr. and U.S. Pat.
No. 4,819,659, issued Apr. 11, 1989 to D. L. Sitar. The Tassin
device describes a device for collecting blood which taps into an
IV catheter system through an entry means, but does not describe a
catheter insertion system or apparatus. The Sitar patent describes
a blood withdrawing device with a needle guard to prevent
accidental puncture wounds, including a guard which slides forward
to cover the needle, locking on a lock which is molded onto the
shaft of the needle to lock the guard in position.
Needle shields or sheathes have been developed which are slidable,
e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5, 011,475, issued Apr. 30, 1991 to Richard A.
Olson (sheath slidable in slots defined in barrel of syringe);
pivotal, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,699, issued Feb. 18, 1997 to
Jerry P. Shine (shield pivotally attached at base of syringe and
pivotally operated by lever connected to gear mechanism); and
frangible, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,404, issued Sep. 6, 1994 to
Carl L. Benson (shield in different segments secured by frangible
means such as plastic shrink wrap). Some of the shields and
sheathes are open over the tip of the needle, such as U.S. Pat. No.
5,267,972, issued Dec. 7, 1993 to Wayne W. Anderson (sheath spring
biased to normally enclose needle, retracts around barrel of
syringe when pressed against patient' skin), while others lock over
and enclose the tip of the needle after use, such as U.S. Pat. No.
5,366,447, issued Nov. 22, 1994 to Carol A. Gurley (sleeve sliding
over barrel of hypodermic syringe, the sleeve having a seal at the
end to seal the sleeve over the needle when fully extended) and
U.S. Pat. No. 5,685, 860, issued Nov. 11, 1997 to Chang, et al.
(needle with a cap attached by a sleeve to the needle hub, capping
needle tip after the needle is removed from the catheter hub).
International Patent No. WO 92/04063, published Mar. 19, 1992,
shows a protective assembly for use with a syringe or a Y-tube. The
device includes a hollow body connecting to a syringe by a Luer Lok
connector at one end and to a needle at the other end, the exterior
of the hollow body having ratchet teeth, and a protective sleeve
slidable over the hollow body, the interior of the protective
sleeve having a pawl which engages the ratchet teeth to prevent
retrograde movement of the protective sleeve once the protective
sleeve has been covered by the sleeve.
The present invention is an intravenous catheter insertion
apparatus which includes a catheter integral with an a pre-slit
injection site, a blunt cannula adapted for penetrating the
pre-slit injection site, and a needle tube having a needle of
sufficient length to pass through the blunt cannula, injection site
and catheter, leaving the tip end of the needle projecting through
the end of the catheter. After the catheter has been inserted into
the venipuncture site, the needle tube and blunt cannula may be
removed, the septum on the injection site preventing blood from
spilling or spurting out of the catheter, thereby preventing the
spread of blood borne pathogens.
International Patent No. WO 90/12606, published Nov. 1, 1990, shows
a pre-slit injection site used in combination with a blunt cannula
(FIGS. 5A and 5B), the injection site used in combination with a
catheter (FIGS. 2A and 2B), the injection site and blunt cannula
used in combination with a syringe (FIG. 4A), and the injection
site and blunt cannula used in combination with IV tubing. However,
the patent does not disclose an injection site integral with a
catheter. Further, the patent does not describe the use of the
combination to perform a venipuncture. The syringe is only
described in combination with the blunt cannula for use in
injecting fluids, and is shown in use with the blunt cannula
without a needle.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in
combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as
claimed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The intravenous catheter insertion apparatus has a catheter
integral with a pre-slit injection site, a blunt cannula adapted
for piercing the septum of the pre-slit injection site, and a tube
slidably housing a needle. In use, the needle is extended through
the aligned bores of the catheter, injection site, and blunt
cannula, leaving a portion of the needle tip projecting from the
end of the catheter in order to insert the catheter into the
patient's vein through venipuncture. The needle is withdrawn, the
needle slide locking in the tube housing after use in order to
prevent accidental needle puncture wounds. The blunt cannula is
also removable, leaving the septum of the injection site sealed to
prevent back flow or spurting of blood from the catheter.
Preferably, the needle tube is made integral with the blunt cannula
to ensure that the tube and cannula are removed as a unit. In an
alternate embodiment, a T-connector having a pre-slit septum may be
used in lieu of the of the injection site.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide
an intravenous catheter insertion apparatus which reduces the risk
of contamination by blood borne pathogens by means of a trocar
inserted through a blunt cannula and pre-slit injection site before
insertion through the IV catheter for venipuncture.
It is another object of the invention to reduce the risk of
contamination by blood borne pathogens by means of an integral
pre-slit injection site and IV catheter, preventing loss of blood
by back flow through the IV catheter.
It is a further object of the invention to reduce the risk of
needle puncture during insertion of an IV catheter by use of a tube
slidably housing a needle, the tube having a locking mechanism for
locking the needle in a retracted position in the tube after
use.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an intravenous
catheter insertion apparatus which reduces or prevents the spread
of infectious diseases by pathogens in the blood, the contamination
of bedding and clothing with blood, and the risk of accidental
needle puncture wounds during insertion of an intravenous catheter
which may be easily manufactured from devices currently known and
available.
It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and
arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described
which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in
accomplishing its intended purposes.
These and other objects of the present invention will become
readily apparent upon further review of the following specification
and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a intravenous catheter
insertion apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the intravenous catheter insertion
apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the needle tube showing the locking
mechanism.
FIG. 4 is an exploded, perspective view of an alternative
embodiment of the intravenous catheter insertion apparatus
according to the present invention.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features
consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention is an intravenous catheter insertion
apparatus, designated generally as 10 in the drawings. As shown in
FIG. 1, the apparatus includes a catheter 20A integral with a
pre-slit injection site 20B, a blunt cannula 40, and a tube 50
housing a needle 52, the needle 52 being slidable in the tube 50.
The catheter 20A is of a conventional type well known in the art,
and comprises a soft flexible cannula 22 made from plastic or
silicon mounted on a hub 24. The cannula 22 is generally between
3/4" and 11/4" in length and between 16 and 24 gauge in diameter.
Ordinarily, an IV catheter will have a pair of flanges 26, as shown
in FIG. 2, mounted transversely on the hub and spaced apart by
180.degree., being adapted for connection to a threaded Luer
Lok.
The pre-slit injection site 20B is also of a type already known,
such as the Baxter InterLink.TM. Injection Site 2N3379 (patent
pending) and the various embodiments described in International
Patent WO 90/12606. As shown in FIG. 2, the injection site 20B
includes a cylindrical housing 28 defining a chamber 30 at one end
and enclosing a fluid flow tube 32 at the other end, the chamber 30
and the fluid flow tube 32 defining a path for the flow of fluid
through the injection site 20B. The end of the injection site 20B
defining the chamber 30 is capped by a flexible, resilient septum
34 having a slit defined therein adapted for receiving the tip of a
blunt cannula 40, the slit closing to cap the chamber 30 to prevent
the flow of fluid when the cannula 40 is removed. The fluid flow
tube 32 is adapted for insertion into the catheter hub 24. The
exterior of the housing 28 has an annular groove 36 defined therein
adapted for receiving the locking members of a blunt cannula 40 as
set forth below.
It is known in the art to temporarily connect an injection site 20B
to a catheter 20A temporarily and removably for the purpose of
passing fluids through the catheter 20A and injection site 20B,
such as by a Luer Lok connection 38 or other means adapted for
engaging the hub 24 of the catheter 20A. While such a connection
will also work for the purpose of inserting an IV catheter
according to the method of the present invention, it is preferred
that the catheter 20A and the pre-slit injection site 20B be made
integral with each other, either through use of an adhesive or
thermosetting resin, or by molding the components together during
fabrication. According to the present invention, the septum 34 caps
the injection site 20B to prevent the back flow of blood from the
patient's vein from exiting through hub 24 of the catheter 20A
during venipuncture. By making the injection site 20B integral with
the catheter 20A, accidental disconnection of the injection site
20B from the catheter 20A during venipuncture is avoided. No loss
of flexibility is incurred, since the adaptors currently available
permit any device (IV tubing, specimen collection devices, etc.)
which may be directly connected to the catheter 20A to be connected
to the pre-slit injection site 20B.
The blunt cannula 40 is also known in the art, such as the Becton
Dickinson & Co. No. 303370 and the various embodiments
described in International Patent WO 90/12606. The blunt cannula 40
includes a hollow, cylindrical body 42 having a pair of Luer Lok
flanges 44 at one end spaced apart by 180.degree., a penetrating
tube 46 having a tapered tip end 48, and a pair of flexible
elongated locking members 49 attached to the exterior of the body
42. The penetrating tube 46 is adapted for penetrating the septum
34 of the pre-slit injection site 20B without damaging the septum
34. The locking members 49 are adapted for engaging the annular
groove 36 defined in the housing 28 of the pre-slit injection site
20B in order to prevent accidental disconnection of the cannula 40
from the injection site 20B. It will be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2
that when the blunt cannula 40 is connected to the injection site
20B, a continuous passageway or bore is defined by the aligned
bores 51A, 51B, and 51C defined in the catheter 20A, pre-slit
injection site 20B and blunt cannula 40 respectively.
Needle tubes 50 for the insertion of IV catheters, such as that
shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, are also known in the art. Such tubes
include a needle 52 mounted on a holder 54 adapted for grasping by
the thumb and fingers, a sliding tube 56 having a locking device 58
being slidable on the holder 54 between a retracted position and an
extended position so that the needle 52 is exposed for
substantially its entire length in an extended position, and
enclosed by the tube 56 in a retracted position, the tube 56
engaging a lock 58 in the retracted position which permanently
locks the needle 52 so that it cannot be extended again. The needle
tube 50 includes an outlet tube 60 adapted for snugly engaging the
hub 24 of an IV catheter 20A, but which also snugly engages the
hollow body 42 of the blunt cannula 40. The needle 52 of the
conventional needle tube 50 is too short to be used with the
present invention, being designed so that the tip of the needle 52
barely projects from the cannula 22 when the needle 52 is fully
extended with the outlet tube 60 engaging the hub 24 of the
catheter 20A, and consequently a needle tube 50 having a length
approximately 11/2" longer is required so that the needle 52 has
sufficient length to extend through the continuous bore 51 formed
by the blunt cannula 40, pre-slit injection site 20B, and catheter
20A.
Although the needle tube 50 has been described as being separate
from the blunt cannula 40, in the preferred embodiment the needle
tube 50 is made integral with the blunt cannula 40, either through
use of an adhesive or thermosetting resin, or by molding the
components together during fabrication. According to the method of
the present invention, the needle tube 50 and blunt cannula 40
should be removed from the injection site 20B as a unit. If the
needle tube 50 is removed from the blunt cannula 40 before the
blunt cannula 40 is removed from the injection site 20B, then blood
or fluids may back up through the aligned bores 51A, 51B, and 51C,
spilling out through hollow body 42 of the blunt cannula 40.
Consequently, it is preferred that the needle tube 50 and blunt
cannula 40 be made as an integral, one-piece unit to preclude
accidental removal of the needle tube 50 from the blunt cannula 40
prior to removal of the blunt cannula 40 from the injection site
20B.
An alternative embodiment of the intravenous catheter insertion
apparatus 10 is shown in FIG. 4, in which the integral
catheter-injection site 20 is replaced by an integral catheter 80A
and T-connector 80B. The catheter portion 80A is again of
conventional design, including a cannula 82 and a hub 84. The
T-connector portion 80B is also of conventional design, such as the
Baxter InterLink.RTM. System T-Connector Extension Set, No. 2N3326.
The T-connector 80B includes a hollow, cylindrical body 81 capped
by a pre-slit septum 83, a side tube 86 connected to a side port 88
by a length of flexible tubing 90, and fluid flow tube 92 adapted
for engaging the hub 84 of a catheter 80B. The septum 83 is
flexible and resilient and has a slit defined therein adapted to
receive the penetrating tube 46 of a blunt cannula 40. The exterior
of the hollow body 81 has a flange 94 adapted for engaging the
locking members 49 of the blunt cannula 40. The hollow body 81,
fluid flow tube 92, catheter hub 84 and cannula 82 define a bore or
first path for the flow of fluid, the first path being capped by
the septum 83, which closes to prevent the flow of fluid when the
blunt cannula 40 is removed from the septum 83. A second path is
defined by the catheter cannula 82 and hub 84, the fluid flow tube
92 and hollow body 81, the side arm 86, flexible tubing 90, and
outlet port 80. The outlet port 88 may be capped by a pre-slit
injection site (not shown) or other device to block the flow of
fluid.
As with the first embodiment described above, the catheter 80A,
T-connector 80B, and blunt cannula 40 define a continuous bore
through which the needle 52 of a needle tube 50 may be extended in
order to perform venipuncture for insertion of the catheter 80A.
The catheter 80A and T-connector 80B may be used as discrete
components, but in the preferred embodiment, the catheter 80A and
T-connector 80B will be formed as an integral component, either
through being permanently joined by an adhesive or thermosetting
resin, or by being molded as an integral unit during
fabrication.
The method of using the intravenous catheter insertion apparatus
according to the present invention includes the steps of: (1)
selecting a pre-slit injection site-catheter 20 combination; (2)
inserting a blunt cannula 40 into the pre-slit injection site 20B;
(3) extending the needle 52 of a locking needle tube 50 assembly
through the bore defined by the blunt cannula-injection
site-catheter combination so that the tip of the needle 52 projects
beyond the end of the catheter 20A (it will be noted that this step
may be performed by the manufacturer or distributor of the
insertion apparatus 10, the apparatus 10 being distributed as a
pre-assembled unit ready for use); (4) performing a venipuncture
procedure in order to insert the catheter 20A into a vein of a
patient; (5) removing the needle 52 from the apparatus 10; (6)
locking the needle 52 in order to prevent a needle puncture wound;
and (8) removing the blunt cannula 40 from the injection site
20B.
It will be understood that although a locking needle tube has been
described, other devices with an extended needle or stylus may be
used to penetrate the patient's skin during the venipuncture. It
will also be understood that although a preferred combination of
blunt cannula and pre-slit injection site have been described,
blunt cannulae and injection sites having different configurations
may be used provided they provide a continuous bore capable of
receiving an extended needle for performing a venipuncture
procedure in combination with a catheter, and provided the
injection site has a resilient cap to prevent the back flow of
blood with the blunt cannula removed.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to
the sole embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all
embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *